The Lebanese government declared Iran’s ambassador persona non grata on Tuesday, an unprecedented move showcasing how much Tehran’s influence has declined in its most important foreign investment.

Iran has exerted unparalleled influence in Lebanon since the 1980s, with its proxy Hezbollah de facto running the country. The group’s hold on Lebanon’s leadership loosened in 2024 when senior leadership officials were assassinated by Israel, and thousands of its members were killed through a rigged pager and walkie-talkie attack. Israel and the United States have sought to take advantage of this weakness, scoring a major victory on Tuesday when Beirut expelled Iranian ambassador Mohammad Reza Shibani, a move unthinkable as recently as just two years ago.